High-level indicator for liquids.



L. K. SELTZER & J. O. STZKHR.

HIGH LEVEL INDICATOR FOR LIQUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20, 1913.

' 1,1 16,934. L Patenhed Nov. 10, 1914.

MTORIVEVS UNITED STATES, PATE T ()FFIGE.

LUTHER K. SELTZER, OF YONKERS, NEW YORK, AND OHN O. STAKE, OF HAG-E35- TOWN, MARYLAND.

HIGH-LEVEL INDICATOR FOB LIQUIDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedNov. 10, 1914.

Application filed November 20, 1918. SerialNo. 802,057.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, LUTHER K..SELTZEB and JOHN O. Srinn, both. citizens of the In. the present method of filling vats or tanks with beer in breweries, the beer is fed from a suitable storage tankin which the beer is fermented, to vats or tanks in which the beer is aerated, the beer being fed in at thebottom and the vat or tank having a vent at the top to permit the escape or discharge ofair displaced by the beer. Under the present mode the attendant must watch while a vat or cask is filling, and in order to ascertain whether or not the vat is full or nearl so, he raps on the side of the vat and etermines the height of the liquid by the. sound. This often results in the 'overflow of. the vat or cask and consequent loss of the beer or liquid, as well as requiring constant attention of the attendant.

My invention consists of an improved high level indicator to be applied to the vat to warn the attendant when the beer is approaching the top of the vat, so that with the device in position in the usual vent hole and the filling pipe connected to the vat, the attendant may spend or occupy his time in any other work until the audible signal 'is given for the cutting off of the flow.

A further object of the invention is to provide an indicator or audible signaling device to indicate a high level in vats or receptacles to be filled with beer or other liquid, which is'removable and adjustable to extend down into the receptacle at varying distances whereby when the liquid approaches a predetermined point a water seal. .will be formed to close the lower end of a the. invention resides more particularly in the peculiar combination and arrangement of parts which will be illustrated as a preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings and described in the specification.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1- is a side elevation of a vat or cask, partly in section with my improved high level indicator applied thereto; Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the improved indicator partly in elevation; and Fig. 3 is a similar view of a modified structure.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a vat or cask commonly employed in breweries, for containing beer, although it is obvious that any other receptacle or tam; may be equally well adapted to be filled in connection with the improved device. The

vat is provided at a suitable point, preferably near its bottom, with an inlet 11 having a controlling valve 12, and the numeral 13 designates a pipe. or hose connected with a suitable supply or tank for discharging the beer into the vat 10.- The vat 10 may be filled from an point, but preferably from;

the bottom, or purposes of convenience in attaching and removing the hose, and its cover or top-portion 14 is provided with the usual vent openin 15 through,- which, in the usual way of lling these vats, the air and gases displayed by the beer escape.

In my improved device, anelongated.

tube 16 is provided, the same being con structed of a single section of rigid. material such as metal, or of flexible material such the upper and lower faces of the stopper.

The lower end of the tube as well as the upper endis open to permit the free escape of the air and gases through the tube, but said lower end may be provided with a reticulated ortion 20 su cient to permit the fr e'of the air and excluding the liquid. V

Secured within the outer tube 16 is an inner tube 21 of somewhat restricted diameter, the inner tube being secured to the outer tube in cl ose proximity to its inner wall andhavi its lower end directed outwardly, as shown at 22, so as to be supported and to communicate with the interior of the vat. '--By adjusting the stopper 18 on the mat-'16, the distance which theindicating deviceor gage extends down into the vat can'be regulated so that the signal'will be given when the liquid reaches a predetermined height. The essential advantage of this is that'the indicator or gage is movable so that the gage can be lowered deeper into the cask or vat, or'rais'ed to whatever level the user desires. The inner tube 21 also extends outwardly of the outer tube and above the same, and has mounted on its upper end a whistleor other audible signaling device 23 designed to be operated by the escape of air through the tube 21. Thus, with the vdevice in the position shown in Fig. 1 as .the Geek or vat is being filled and theliquid rises therein, the-airi's expelled through the tube '16, this being the larger'escape opening, so that the air might escape quite freely. As soon as the liquid or beer reaches a level above the lower end of the tube 16, a water seal is formed so that further escape of the air through the tube 16' is prevented. This air escapes through the tube 21 under great pressure, and in passing through the whistle 23, 'will operate the latter to warn the attendant to cut off the supply; The attendants time in the meantime may be spent in doing other work, and

the vent opening, but in cramped places orwhen the top of the vat is located in close proximity to the ceiling, a device constructed of flexible material such as rubber, in-

cluding the inner tube 21, is used and the device bent in any desired shape. This advantage is further carried out by the construction shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings wherein the tube substituted in lieu of the tube 16 comprises a plurality of telescoping sections 24, 25 and 26, fitted one within the other, while the inner tube embodies telescoping sections .27, 28 and 29, all designed by their frictional engagement within each other to be held against longitudinal displacement or telescoping movement due to their weight. The stopper 18 is carried by the lower section 24: in whichthe section 25 telescopes, while the section 26 telescopes in the section 25. The section 27 of the inner tube is anchored as shown at 30 to the lower tube section 24 and also extends laterally as shown at 31 exteriorly of the outer tube at a spaced distance from the lower end of the latter in the same manner as the tube 21 is mounted. The section 28 telescopes in the section 2? and is supported by the frictional engagement of the parts alone, while the section 29 carrying the whistle or audible signaling device 23 is fixed to the top section 26 as shown at 32, thus permitting the parts to telescope simultaneouslyfor use in cramped places as heretofore described, or to occupy a minimum of space when not in use.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

" 1. A high level indicator for liquids, comprising a tube having open ends, a tube of reduced diameter mounted in the first-mentioned tube and communicating exteriorly thereof near its lower. end, and an audible signaling device carried by the upper end of the second-named tube. I

2. A high level indicator for liquid-containing vats having a suitable inlet and a vent opening near the top thereof, comprising a tube having a continuously open bore, means mounted on the tube for supporting the same within the vent opening, a tube of restricted size mounted in the first'mentioned tube and communicating ekteriorly thereof at a spaced point from its lower end, and a signaling device carried by the upper end ef the second-mentioned tube whereby when the liquid in the tank reaches a level above the lower end of the firstme'ntioned tube through which air is permitted to freely escape during the filling of the tank, said air will be forced through the second-mentioned tube to operate the signal. v

3. A high level indicator of the class described, comprising a tube having an 0 en upper end and an apertured lower en a stopper adjustably mounted on the tube, a tube of restricted diameter carried by the first-mentioned tube, and an audible signaling device mounted on the upper end of saibd tube exteriorly of the first-mentioned tu e.

4. A high level indicator of the class described, comprising a tube having an open upper end and an apertured lower end, a stopper adjustably mounted on the tube, a

t ube of restricted diameter carried by the first-mentioned tube, and an audible signaling device mounted on the upper end of said ttibe exteriorly of the first-mentioned tnbe; said tubes embo'lying telescoping seetlons.

5. A high level indicator of the class described, comprising a tube an 0 upper end and-en apertured lower en a stopper adjustabl -mounted on the tubeya'.

, diameter carried by the first-mentioned tube; and an audible sigsaid tubeexterio'rly of'th first-mentioned tube of restric naling device mounted-on the upper end of tube, s ai'd designed.- to be shortprojection from JOHN O. STKHIR.

.Witnesses to the signature" of Luthen K;

j 1 'Josnrn- B. MILLER.

' to" the si ture of John, O.

RAiw'DonPH Kenn; Jno.- C. 0C0NNEnn.

L THER K. sEL zERi 

